Iowa Crop - Weather Report

June 23, 2013

DES MOINES - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

"With only 94 percent of the corn planted, Iowa has approximately800,000 acres that farmers had intended to plant to corn that is still not in the ground. At this late date it is likely that some of that six percent will not be planted, and that which is planted will see lower yields," Northey said.

"It is good to see an improvement in the soybean planting, increasing by seventeen percent to 77 percent planted. Hopefully a significant portion of the beans yet to be planted will get in the ground this week as it is getting late in the season to plant soybeans."

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Bill NortheyIowa Secretary of Agriculture

CROP REPORT

Iowa farmers struggled to get the remaining cropland planted during the week ending June 16, 2013, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Intermittent rainfall throughout the week didn't permit enough drying, and some farmers resorted to planting in less than ideal conditions. Statewide there was an average of 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork. East Central and South East Iowa had the most days suitable for fieldwork, while North West and North Central Iowa had the least amount of days suitable.

Ninety-four percent of Iowa's corn crop was in the ground, 2 percentage points higher than last week but normally all corn is planted by this time. Eighty-nine percent of the corn crop has emerged, 10 percentage points below the five-year average. Corn condition was reported at 4 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 42 percent good and 8 percent excellent.

Farmers have planted 77 percent of the soybean crop, an advancement of 17 percentage points from last week, but planting is still lower than the normal 96 percent. Soybean emergence was 56 percent complete; well behind both last year's 98 percent, and the five-year average of 91 percent.

The first soybean condition rating of the year reflected 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 42 percent good and 8 percent excellent.

Thirty-six percent of the oat crop was headed, and the crop condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 57 percent good and 11 percent excellent. It was reported high winds in some areas caused lodging in oats.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 31 percent complete, compared to last year when the first cutting was finished, and the second cutting was 27 percent complete. Farmers were waiting for drier conditions to cut hay.

Slightly warmer weather prevailed over the past reporting week in Iowa. The period began with temperatures slightly below normal on Sunday (9th) and Monday (10th) with daytime highs mostly in the 70's. However, above normal temperatures prevailed for the remainder of the week except on Friday (14th) when widespread cloudiness reduced daytime readings. Temperature extremes for the week ranged from a high of 93 degrees at Keokuk on Wednesday afternoon to morning lows of 52 degrees at Sibley on Thursday and Elkader on Friday. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 1.7 degrees above normal. Light rain fell over most of Iowa on Sunday (9th) with dry weather statewide on Monday and Tuesday. Thunderstorms brought rain to about the northern two-thirds of the state on Wednesday with locally heavy rain and severe weather over north central and northeast Iowa. Thursday was mostly dry with scattered light showers over western Iowa. Rain fell nearly statewide on Friday and Saturday with the heaviest rains falling over west central Iowa on Friday evening. There were a numerous reports of high winds and hail over western Iowa Friday night and a few over the southeast corner of the state on Saturday night. Weekly rain totals varied from just 0.08 inches at Lowden in Cedar County to 6.00 inches at Coon Rapids in Carroll County. The statewide average precipitation was 1.38 inches while normal for the week is 1.19 inches.